Crofts missed the second half of Brighton’s league campaign last season, which ended in play-off heartache again for the Seagulls, but the combative midfielder is now closing in on return to full fitness.

The 30-year-old had been a key part of Albion’s promotion push prior to suffering the injury against Birmingham in January but the Welsh international’s pending return will be a boost to new boss Sami Hyypia.

Crofts re-joined Brighton in 2012 after a two-year stint at Carrow Road which included a Championship promotion success.

“You take it day-by-day with these injuries, but hopefully I’ll get a couple of games towards the end of pre-season and be available for the opening match of the season,” he said. “I don’t really want to set myself any dates, I just listen to my knee and body and make sure that when I’m ready to join in with the boys I’ll be flying.

“I’ve had a good four and a half months of recovery work and then I had ten days off, went on holiday and had a bit of downtime with the family.

“I’ll now spend the next five or six weeks with the physios and get myself fit, before joining in with the squad a few weeks into their pre-season.”

Crofts’ one-time Brighton and Norwich team-mate Elliott Bennett missed the majority of City’s Premier League relegation battle with the same injury, and Crofts understands what the midfielder will have gone through to get fit.

“The past six months have made me so desperate and hungry to come back. These injuries are tough, but it makes me appreciate playing football so much more and I want to show everyone the sort of form I was hitting last year,” he told Brighton’s official site. “I’ve been sprinting and done a lot of strength work in the gym on my legs so hopefully when I go back we’ll be looking at twisting and turning in the knee and getting it as strong as possible. It can still get a bit stiff and ache sometimes, but it has settled down in the last two months.”

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Thanks, guys. I remember now! I see the pitch at Manaus has been sprayed green to make it look good on the Telly. It seems that those who have looked at it closely, have declared it a dreadful surface. Hard and with bare patches (disguised by B&Q`s very best own-brand, grass-green aerosol paint). Every football-supporting reluctant gardener will be after a few tins of that. Specially when the DIY Giant`s marketing men get on the case. "Real World Cup pitch restoring pigment, in a specially commissioned commemorative can, featuring a picture of Woy". Btw: I hope Joseph Yobo takes care. It would be just terrible if he got injured for the World Cup....

Spraying the ten yard line for the wall in front of free kicks is great for bringing more equality into games and such a simple and cheap solution. It should be brought in everywhere. I cannot see any negatives to it.

During the Brazil game last night the official was using a spray to measure the yards players should be on free kicks to stop them creeping forwards. Its quick to vanish so not to ruin the pitch. Such a simple, yet brilliant idea. Cant understand why more leagues have not at least tested it like the MLS have.

Good point. Hope so. Thats the issue with dropping down the leagues though. Not all teams can afford it so depends on the championship rules and requirements. Im glad the world cup is embracing the free kick spray. As a regular MLS viewer, they've used it for ages to great success. Anything that can help Snoddy get his free kicks over that wall into the net, ill support!

Was just thinking there...now we're a Championship team (hopefully not for long)...will we keep the 'Goal Line Technology' that was installed last season...or is it still just going to be for Premier League teams?...I thought it was a GREAT sucess...and it seems silly to remove it and really the FA should be looking at installing it at all Championship clubs this season, League One next and League Two after that...so over the next three seasons ALL the League Clubs will have it as well...as a goal line decision is a goal line decision and important in any of the 92 league clubs!!!